Skilled trades occupations in the construction, building and maintenance industries have traditionally been men’s jobs. Despite industry and government efforts to change the situation over the past few decades, these industries remain theThe reasons why are complex.
Our recent study has also identified a devaluing of women based on gender bias, and the view that it’s acceptable to sexually tease and joke around with women. This type of sexualising and sexual harassment has a significant impact on women trying to make their way in this environment.Our study also found problems with the classroom environment in vocational education and training establishments.
Indeed, the women in our study tried to ignore such issues and made light of them so they were not excluded from their peer group or disadvantaged in any way. They said male peers in the VET classroom would sometimes aim sexually inappropriate comments in their direction, then say: “only joking”. Their male peers often made comments about women’s bodies, try to look down their shirts, and worse. Yet, teachers didn’t mediate this behaviour.
Another strategy might include training teachers to counteract sexism and tokenism in the classroom, particularly recognising and preventing sexual harassment. Such strategies would contribute to an environment of trust and strengthen positive relationships between tradeswomen, their male peers, and teachers in the VET sector.Establishing networks of practitioners who are gender sensitive, mixed gender teaching teams, and women-only training environments are also options.
Coincidentally these are exactly the same reasons that men don't want to be daycare workers
Or the possibility most women dont like arduous manual labour in 40C heat with little job security.
I’m going to get hammered for this… but could it be that construction generally requires people to lift heavy stuff all day and men are genetically constructed to be physically more capable of doing so? Why must everything like this be because there’s a villain somewhere…